Compressing machine



T; LUND. COMPRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 3,1919.

iatentedAug;22, 1922.

THOMAS LUND, or BEVERLY, nrassacnnsnr'rs, rissienon 'ro UNITED. srron MACHINERY CORPORATION, on EATER-SON, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION or new JEnsn'r.

coiarnnssiive MACHINE.

Application filed July 3, 1919. Serial $0,303,528. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, TI-IoMAs Lo n), a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Compressing Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

The invention to be hereinafter described, relates to machines for compressing boot and shoe parts, such, for instance, as heels, top lifts, and the like. In certain aspects the advantages and results of this invention are more particularly observable in machines for compressing top lifts and, therefore, the invention is herein shown and described as embodied in a machine of that type. It is to be understood, however, that the invention and various features thereof, may be ad vantageously employed in machines for compressing other boot and shoe blanks, and consequently are not restricted or limited to use in machines for compressing top lifts.

It is the present practice to compress or condense top lifts before they are applied to heels, by subjecting them to pressure in a mold. During this compressing operation a fin, more or less pronounced, is formed at the edge of the top lift where the flesh or inner flat surface thereof meets the surface which defines the peripheral contour of the lift. Should the fin thus formed extend in a direction normal or substantially normal to the fiesh or inner surface of the top lift, it is likely to interfere, with the close contact that is desirable between the inner or flat surface of the top lift and adj acent surface of the heel when the top lift is spanked on. On the other hand, should the fin extend outwardly from the peripheral edge of the top lift or substantially in the plane of the inner or flesh surface of the top lift, it will not interfere with the'close union between theto-p lift and the heel, and

during the heel trimming operation, will be removed.

An important feature of the present inventlon, therefore, consists of a die of larger face area than the cavity of the mold, the,

bottom and contour portions of which are supported for relative movement ef ected by engagement of one of said portions with sired close contact.

v,Qjrain surface of the top lift.

the die during the compressing operation. in carrying this feature of the invention into practical efiect, the mold may have its contour and breast portions yieldingly supported, and the die or opposed pressuremem may be formed to overlap the'contour portions of the mold and cause movement of such contour portions relative to thebottom of the mold during'the compressing opera tion. Anyfin'or projection thatmay be" E-ipecification of Letters Patent. Paltgnted Aug, 22

will, under the general construction above be spanked onto the heel with the engaging surfaces of the heel and top lift in the de,-;

Heretofore it has been the common practice to form themold ofthree'parts to constitute the peripheral portion of the mold, namely, the two relatively movable side members, and a relatively movable breast member. This construction has permitted the ready introduction of the top lift; into the mold while the members of the mold are in separated-relation. WVhemhowever, the

top lift has been compressed in such. three,- part mold, there has frequentlybeen formed at the rear portion of the top lift, a projection or fin extending fromthe flesh to the This fin has been produced at the point where the two terruptedly around its sides and back from' one breast corner to the other, combined with an opposed die for acting upon the blank within the mold and means for permitting relative movement, in'the direction of pressure, between the bottom andcontour portions of the mold as the blank is co'mpressedL 7 When a top lift or other heel blank is'suba jected to compression in a mold of this char Q 65 producedidurlng thecompressing operation, 0 V

tions incident to the compression of a heel blank in molds such as heretofore generally used.

Other features of the invention and novel combinations of parts in addition to the above, will be hereinafter described in. connection with one good practical form of the invention and then the various features and novel constructions will be definitely set forth in the claims.

In thedrawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a coinpressing machine embodying the present invention, only sufhcient portions of the machine beingillustrated to make clear the association of the invention therewith;

2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a top lift in compressing position and the parts about to act upon it;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the heel showing a top lift secured thereto and having a laterally or outwardly extending fin;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4.-i, 1, showing the position of the top lift when it is fed into position tobe treated by the opposed compressing members The compressing machine for compressing the boot or shoe blank may be of the general character well understood by those skilled in the art, and as a convenient form of such compressing machine to which the present invention may be adapted for advantageous use, attention is called to United States patent to Sanford D. Leland No. 776,787, dated December 6, 1904:, for a sutlicient disclosure of a compressing machine and the cooperating relation of its various parts.

The head 2 of the compressing machine is mounted in the supporting frame 1 for vertical movement under the actuating infiuenceof the toggles 8, Fig. 1, only a portion of one of the toggles being shown in the present illustration. These toggles and their actuating means may be the same as described in. the Leland patent. through the head 2 is the rod or post 4; carrying at its upper portion a plate 5, which may, for identification, be referredtoas the bottom of the mold or top lift plate. The plate 5 may be connected to the rod or stem 4 in any suitable manner such, for instance,

as described in the patent to Leland above mentioned, and may be actuated as described in that patent by an arm or member 6 pivotally mounted at 7 and having the arm 8 to which motion maybe imparted. by means such as the cam and switch means fully described in the Leland patent. Between the bottom of the mold or top plate 5 and the recipro eating head 2, washers W may be placed, by means of which to adapt the machine for compressing blanks of different thicknesses.

Extending The contour portions of the mold are mounted for movement relative to the bottom of the mold or top plate 5 during the operation of compressing the top lift, and while this characteristic of the invention may be variously contrived, in the present instance the contour portions 9 of the mold which define the contour edge of the top lift from one breast corner to the other, are supported yieldingly upon the reciprocating head 2. In the present instance,the head 2 carries the blocks or lower mold members 10, above which are supported the contour portions of the mold 9 by means of springs 11 interposed between the contour portions 9 and the lower mold members or blocks 10. The number of these spring supports for the contour portions of the mold, may be varied, and as convenient means for associating the parts, bolts 12 are passed through the contour portions 9 of the mold. and extend downwardly into. and are secured to tie blocks 10 bynuts 13 preferably seated in recesses formed in the bottom surface of the blocks 10, as indicated in Fig. 1. The opposed contiguous faces of the blocks 10 and the contour portions 9 of the ,mold, may be provided with recesses 14-, 15, to receive the end. portions of the springs 11 which preferably surround the bolts 12, as indicated in Fig. 1, the construction being such that should pressure be exerted. downwardly upon the contour portions 9 of the mold, such portions may be depressed or moved rela tively to the top lift plate 5. The breast portion 16 of the mold is mounted .or movement towards and from the contour portions 9, as indicated in 2, and, like the contour portions 9, the breast portion 16 of the mold is yieldingly siu ported by the springs 17' surrounding toe bolts 18 which may be of the general construction and arrangement as already described for the yielding supports for the contour portions 9 of the mold. The breast portion 16 may have a die 1'6 and is moved towards and from the co: our portions 9 by the side members 19 to which he breast n'ieniberniay be connected sub stantially as fully described in the .i-siland patent.

The die for cooperating with the mold in compressing the top lift, may be rigidly sup-- ported by the machine frame, described in the Leland atent, and comprises a plate 20, Fig. 1, having a plane acting face 21 which, when brought into cooperative or compressing relation with the Imold, will overlap the contour portions of the mold. This overlapping condition may be effected by making the plane acting face 21 of the die of greater area than the open of the mold so that as the compression me1n bers, that is, the mold and die, are brought into compressing relation, the portions of the die which overlap the mold will depress or move the latter relative to the bottom or top plate of the mold, during pressing op eration.

Having reference Fig. 4,- it will be noted that the contour portion of the mold is provided with an incline 22 converging inwardly of the mold to meet the vertical wall 23 of the contour portion. When the top lift a as indicated in Fig. 4, is fed into position to be treated, the in clined peripheral edge portions of the top lift, rest upon the inclined portions 22 of the mold. V sion members are brought into compressing relation, the top lift is forced downwardly into the mold cavity until its grain surface rests upon the top lift plate and the desired compressing action is imparted to the top lift. During this time, as the compression members continue to approach, the contour portions 9 of the mold will be depressed by the overlapping portions of the die, thereby givin to the top lift a stripping action rel-- ative to the contour portions of the mold. Any fin that may be formed durin'gthe pressing action will be forced outwardly in a direction substantially in line with or parallel to the plane of the flesh side of the top lift, while the grain side of the top lift, which is to act as the guide for trimming the heel, will be formed as indicated at b,

Fig. 3. That-is, the contour edge about the" grain surface of the top lift will have its contour walls substantially at right angles to the grain or tread face of the top life to provide a proper guiding surface during heel trimming operation. Asthe heel is trimmed, the fin 0, Fig. 3, will be removed.

As hereinbefore indicated, the contour portions of the mold, which define the peripheral form of the top lift, are continuous or uninterrupted from one breast corner to the other. This is indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, wherein the contour portion 2a extends from one breast corner 25 of the mold to the other breast corner 26, the con-' struction being such that when the top lift or other blank is compressed, the contour surface of the top lift or blank from one breast corner to the other is continuous and uninterrupted, no projecting portion being between the grain and flesh side of the top lift or blank, as is somestimes the case where the contour portions of the mold are formed of separate parts.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocable cross head, and a mold, the bottom and contour portions of the mold being carried upon the crosshead and the contour portions of the mold being movable up and down relatively thereto.

more particularly tor When, however, the compresl 2. In a machine of the .classdescribed, the

combination of a reciprocable head, amold carried. by the head and having bottom and and means permitting contour portions,

around the sides and back of theimold to be moved by the die relatively to the bottom of the mold in the direction of pres sure exerted by the die as the'blank is compressed.

4. In amachine of the class. described, the

combination of, a mold compression member and an opposed die compression member of larger face area thanthe'mold cav ty,

andmeans for yieldingly' supporting con-A tour portions around the sides and, back of the mold to permit movement thereof by the die relatively to the bottom of the mold as the blank is compressed. a

5. In a machine of. the character de-.

scribed, the combination of a reciprocable head, a mold having a bottom portion resting solidly on the head and a curved edge engaging contour portion spring supported on the head to yield toward the latter, and

an opposed stationary die in the path of movement of, said contour portion.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mold having an uninterrupted contour portion extending around itssides and back from one breast corner to the other, a die having an acting face of greater area than the open face of the mold, and means permitting the face of the die to move the contour portion of the mold relative to thebottom of the mold in the direction of pressure exertedby the die as the blank is compressed.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mold having an uninterrupted contour portion extend- 1ng around its sides and back from one breast corner to the other, a die havingan acting face of greater area than the open face of the mold, and spring means for supporting the contour portion of the mold that it may be moved by the die relative to the bottom of the mold as the blank is compressed. 3

8. In a machine for compressing toplifts, the combination of a mold comprising a top-lift plate and contour portions, and an opposed die having a pressure face extending beyond the cavity of the mold 1 around its entire periphery and acting to move the contour portions of the mold relative to the top-lift plate in the, direction of pressure exerted by the die as the top-lift is compressed.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mold comprising a topli'ft plate and contour portions extending uninterruptedly around its sides and back from one breast corner to the other, an opposed die having an active face larger than the open face of the mold, and means for supporting the top-lift plate and contour portions of the die for relative movement in the direction of pressure as the top-lift is compressed.

10. In a machine of the class described the combination of a mold having a bottom plate contour portions, and a breast por tion, springs for supporting the contour and breast portions, and a die having an active face overlapping the contour and breast portions of the mold and adapted to move the contour and breast portions relative to the bottom plate as the blank is compressed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS LUND 

